Michael Atherton praised England fast bowler Jofra Archer for spearheading England’s impressive performance on day one of the third Ashes Test in Adelaide as they reduced Australia to 326-8.
Archer, who came in for criticism at the back-end of England’s second Test defeat in Brisbane for bowling one of his quickest spells with the game practically over, took 3-29 in his 16 overs, clocking speeds up near 90mph in searing heat.
Archer claimed the opening wicket of Jake Weatherald (18), before adding Marnus Labuschagne (19) with the first ball after lunch and then Cameron Green (0) two balls later to reduce Australia to 94-4.
“I thought Archer led the attack really well today,” Atherton said on ‘Ashes Daily’, the latest Sky Sports Cricket Podcast.
“He came in for a lot of criticism at The Gabba from former Australian players – some of it understandable, some of it not, in my opinion.
“He was fast today in his opening spell, I think he averaged 89.3 miles per hour. He took wickets in his second spell and bowled a very economical third.
“I thought he led the attack excellently.”
Jofra Archer, England Test cricket, The Ashes (PA Images)
Sky Sports’ Nasser Hussain similarly reserved praise for Archer after the opening day of the crucial third Test for England, who trail 2-0 in the five-match series.
“I thought it was a bit odd the reaction in the last game, really,” Hussain said.
“In the history of the game, when a fast bowler knows he’s only going to bowl for five or six overs, they come in hard and bowl faster.
“It’s Jofra; he runs in and bowls like that pretty much all the time. He puts in the effort and got his rewards today, bowling really well on a very flat surface.”
Missed opportunity for Australia? ‘They fluffed their lines’
Australia won the toss and chose to bat first on what looks a belting Adelaide pitch for batting, meaning their closing score of 326-8 – headlined by Alex Carey’s maiden Ashes hundred – represents something of a missed opportunity according to Atherton.
Alex Carey replied with a cheeky response if he’s a ‘walker’, following the controversial not out call during the third Ashes Test
“All the numbers suggest that Australia, when they bat first in day matches here since 2000, they’ve only once been bowled out below 400,” Atherton said.
“So, if you take eight wickets, you’re pretty satisfied with the outcome.
“And just the manner of a few tame dismissals – Travis Head driving uppishly, and the two to Archer, Labuschagne first ball after lunch and Green chipping aimlessly to midwicket.
“They will think that this was an opportunity, on a flat pitch – 35 degrees, a baking hot day – where they could have almost put things beyond England.
“But they haven’t done that, and now everything will rest on England’s first innings.
“They have to get up to and beyond Australia, so that they’re not left with too much to do at the end of the game.”
Sky Sports’ Nasser Hussain discusses how England could have reignited their Ashes hopes, despite Alex Carey scoring a superb century on the first day of the third Test in Adelaide
Hussain also felt Australia “fluffed their lines” with their batting effort on day one in Adelaide.
“They fought back with a brilliant hundred from Alex Carey, but there were some soft dismissals in there,” he said.
“Australia could have put this series to bed and been 330-4 at the end of day one.
“England kept going on a very flat Adelaide pitch, on a hot day, so I think they will take that score walking off today.
“It could have been better, but it was a crucial toss lost and so they’ve done pretty well.”
Ashes series in Australia 2025-26
Australia lead five-match series 2-0
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
Greg Biffle dies at 55: Former NASCAR driver among victims of plane crash in North Carolina
Former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle was among the several people killed Thursday in a plane crash at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina. NASCAR confirmed that three of Biffle's family members were also killed in the tragic accident. His wife Cristina, daughter Emma and son Ryder were among the victims. Dennis Dutton, his son Jack and Craig Wadsworth also died in the crash.The plane, which crashed during a landing at approximately 10:15 a.m., was registered to a company that Biffle owned.Flight tracking data shows the plane took off from the airport around 10 a.m. but returned and attempted to land at the Charlotte-area airport. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that six people were aboard the Cessna C550 and that there were fatalities associated with the crash."NASCAR is devastated by the tragic loss of Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter Emma, […]
Former NASCAR Driver Greg Biffle, Family Members Among 7 Killed in Plane Crash
Former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and members of his family were among seven people who died in a plane crash Thursday in North Carolina, state police said.The business jet erupted into a large fire when it hit the ground while trying to land at Statesville Regional Airport, about 45 miles north of Charlotte.Flight records show the plane was registered to a company run by Biffle."Although the post-crash fire prevents us from releasing a definitive list of the occupants at this time, it is believed that Mr. Gregory Biffle and members of his immediate family were occupants of the airplane," state police said.Biffle, 55, won more than 50 races across NASCAR’s three circuits, including 19 at the Cup Series level. He also won the Trucks Series championship in 2000 and the Xfinity Series title in 2002."We are devastated by the loss […]
Greg Biffle’s greatest victories came nowhere near a race track
Greg Biffle raced for 16 years in NASCAR, winning 19 races and earning $75 million in purses. Named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023, he was a top-10 fixture for a decade. But his most meaningful impact came long after he stopped driving full-time.Biffle, who died Thursday along with six others in a plane crash, became a sudden, unexpected savior in the wake of 2024’s devastating Hurricane Helene. Flying his helicopter into and out of hurricane-ravaged areas of North Carolina, Biffle ferried emergency supplies in and brought rescued survivors out of the storm zone.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHe began by rescuing a family of tourists stranded in Banner Elk, North Carolina. And once he took to the skies — once he got a look at the carnage left by the hurricane — Biffle found a sudden calling. He flew multiple missions a […]
Ligovou fázi Konferenční ligy ovládl Štrasburk
Online magazín deníku Právo & Seznam.czCopyright © 1996–2025, Seznam.cz, a.s., Borgis, a.s., ČTK, DPA, Reuters, fotobanka Profimedia.Publikování nebo další šíření obsahu serveru Sport.cz je bez písemného souhlasu společnosti Borgis, a.s. zakázáno. RSS kanály serveru Sport.cz jsou určeny pouze pro osobní užití. Jakékoli kopírování, šíření nebo využívání obsahu RSS kanálů serveru Sport.cz bez předchozího písemného souhlasu společnosti Borgis a.s. není dovoleno. Dodavatelem obsahu serveru Sport.cz a osobou vykonávající redakční odpovědnost je společnost BORGIS a.s. Šiřitelem reklamy na serveru Sport.cz je společnost Seznam.cz, a.s., IČO 26168685.
Palace forced into Conference League play-offs after draw to 10-men KuPS
A much-changed Crystal Palace were forced to settle for the UEFA Conference League knockout stage play-offs after they were held by a 10-man KuPS side in a 2-2 draw at Selhurst Park.Palace finished 10th place in the Conference League standings, meaning two additional games for Oliver Glasner's side in February after the Austrian boss had already complained about a taxing fixture schedule.He'll have his own side to blame for their additional two matches in the new year though as they threw away an early lead against the Finnish champions. Chrisantus Uche's first-half magic to find the back of the net with a Trivela was cancelled out in the second half. With three minutes separating the two goals, Piotr Parzyszek and Ibrahim Cisse scored to stun Selhurst Park. Two nearly became three in 10 minutes as a second Parzyszek goal was […]
Stinging criticism and Rangers warning – can Nancy turn things around at Celtic?
Wilfried Nancy's start to life at Celtic ranks as the worst of any manager and, after just 15 days, some fans have already had enough.Defeats in all four of his games so far mean Celtic are also on their poorest run of form since 1978, with former player Stiliyan Petrov opining that Nancy could be sacked before the end of this month, if things don't improve. Despite that, Sky Sports News understands the club's board are still fully behind their new manager. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Celtic lost a fourth consecutive game under Nancy Nancy has taken over following Martin O'Neill's interim reign, which left Celtic with the chance to win silverware, go top of the league and progress in Europe.Fast forward two weeks, and their Premiership title hopes have taken a blow with […]
Related
Greg Biffle dies at 55: Former NASCAR driver among victims of plane crash in North Carolina
Former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle was among the several people killed Thursday in a plane crash at Statesville Regional Airport in North Carolina. NASCAR confirmed that three of Biffle's family members were also killed in the tragic accident. His wife Cristina, daughter Emma and son Ryder were among the victims. Dennis Dutton, his son Jack and Craig Wadsworth also died in the crash.The plane, which crashed during a landing at approximately 10:15 a.m., was registered to a company that Biffle owned.Flight tracking data shows the plane took off from the airport around 10 a.m. but returned and attempted to land at the Charlotte-area airport. The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that six people were aboard the Cessna C550 and that there were fatalities associated with the crash."NASCAR is devastated by the tragic loss of Greg Biffle, his wife Cristina, daughter Emma, […]
Former NASCAR Driver Greg Biffle, Family Members Among 7 Killed in Plane Crash
Former NASCAR driver Greg Biffle and members of his family were among seven people who died in a plane crash Thursday in North Carolina, state police said.The business jet erupted into a large fire when it hit the ground while trying to land at Statesville Regional Airport, about 45 miles north of Charlotte.Flight records show the plane was registered to a company run by Biffle."Although the post-crash fire prevents us from releasing a definitive list of the occupants at this time, it is believed that Mr. Gregory Biffle and members of his immediate family were occupants of the airplane," state police said.Biffle, 55, won more than 50 races across NASCAR’s three circuits, including 19 at the Cup Series level. He also won the Trucks Series championship in 2000 and the Xfinity Series title in 2002."We are devastated by the loss […]
Greg Biffle’s greatest victories came nowhere near a race track
Greg Biffle raced for 16 years in NASCAR, winning 19 races and earning $75 million in purses. Named one of NASCAR’s 75 Greatest Drivers in 2023, he was a top-10 fixture for a decade. But his most meaningful impact came long after he stopped driving full-time.Biffle, who died Thursday along with six others in a plane crash, became a sudden, unexpected savior in the wake of 2024’s devastating Hurricane Helene. Flying his helicopter into and out of hurricane-ravaged areas of North Carolina, Biffle ferried emergency supplies in and brought rescued survivors out of the storm zone.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHe began by rescuing a family of tourists stranded in Banner Elk, North Carolina. And once he took to the skies — once he got a look at the carnage left by the hurricane — Biffle found a sudden calling. He flew multiple missions a […]
Ligovou fázi Konferenční ligy ovládl Štrasburk
Online magazín deníku Právo & Seznam.czCopyright © 1996–2025, Seznam.cz, a.s., Borgis, a.s., ČTK, DPA, Reuters, fotobanka Profimedia.Publikování nebo další šíření obsahu serveru Sport.cz je bez písemného souhlasu společnosti Borgis, a.s. zakázáno. RSS kanály serveru Sport.cz jsou určeny pouze pro osobní užití. Jakékoli kopírování, šíření nebo využívání obsahu RSS kanálů serveru Sport.cz bez předchozího písemného souhlasu společnosti Borgis a.s. není dovoleno. Dodavatelem obsahu serveru Sport.cz a osobou vykonávající redakční odpovědnost je společnost BORGIS a.s. Šiřitelem reklamy na serveru Sport.cz je společnost Seznam.cz, a.s., IČO 26168685.
Palace forced into Conference League play-offs after draw to 10-men KuPS
A much-changed Crystal Palace were forced to settle for the UEFA Conference League knockout stage play-offs after they were held by a 10-man KuPS side in a 2-2 draw at Selhurst Park.Palace finished 10th place in the Conference League standings, meaning two additional games for Oliver Glasner's side in February after the Austrian boss had already complained about a taxing fixture schedule.He'll have his own side to blame for their additional two matches in the new year though as they threw away an early lead against the Finnish champions. Chrisantus Uche's first-half magic to find the back of the net with a Trivela was cancelled out in the second half. With three minutes separating the two goals, Piotr Parzyszek and Ibrahim Cisse scored to stun Selhurst Park. Two nearly became three in 10 minutes as a second Parzyszek goal was […]
Stinging criticism and Rangers warning – can Nancy turn things around at Celtic?
Wilfried Nancy's start to life at Celtic ranks as the worst of any manager and, after just 15 days, some fans have already had enough.Defeats in all four of his games so far mean Celtic are also on their poorest run of form since 1978, with former player Stiliyan Petrov opining that Nancy could be sacked before the end of this month, if things don't improve. Despite that, Sky Sports News understands the club's board are still fully behind their new manager. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player Celtic lost a fourth consecutive game under Nancy Nancy has taken over following Martin O'Neill's interim reign, which left Celtic with the chance to win silverware, go top of the league and progress in Europe.Fast forward two weeks, and their Premiership title hopes have taken a blow with […]
Be the first to leave a comment